As more than 3 million tons exportable surplus wheat is available, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research proposed to allow export of the equal quantity of suji, maida and wheat flour fine (aata) equivalent to the quota of wheat issued.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research proposed maintaining the Minimum Guaranteed Price (MGP) of wheat at Rs.1,300 per 40 kg for wheat crop season 2016-17 .

ECC accorded approval to the proposal for maintaining the MGP of Rs.1,300 per 40 kg for wheat crop season 2016-17 .

The ECC approved a summary submitted by the Finance Division regarding lifting of withholding tax on small farmers schemes.

The summary sought exemption from the purview of section 236U of Income Tax Ordnance, 2001 to the Crop Loan Insurance Scheme and livestock Insurance Scheme which are aimed at providing risk cover to mitigate losses in case of natural disasters.

ECC takes important decisions on business and economy

The meeting also approved relending the China Eximbank loans to Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) for Chashma Nuclear Power Project 3 and 4 on similar terms, lines available to the loans relent to provincial governments and departments.

The Chinese loans will be relent to PAEC at actual terms and conditions available to the Government of Pakistan and also the exchange rate risk will be borne by PAEC.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources apprised the ECC regarding increase in natural gas production of more than 83 to 84 MMCFD from Nashpa field.

It also stated that the M/S Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited is also keen to receive the additional gas due to demand-supply imbalance of natural gas on its system.

The ECC approved the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources proposal for allocation of the additional gas up to 84 MMCFD produced from Nashpa field to SNGPL to cope with demand-supply imbalance on its system.

The ECC also accorded approval in principle for re-enactment of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2009 (XVI of 2009) with retrospective effect containing validation and sun-set clauses from the date of promulgation of the Ordinance with a condition not to change the present system of Sales Tax collection.

The Committee also approved the Memorandum of Agreement signed on May 20, 2016 between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and the Balochistan government for extension of Sui gas mining lease agreement for next ten years.